More details about the effect of antidepressants

In order for antidepressants to function they first have to pass through the digestive system into the blood and then from the blood into the brain. The brain is an exceptionally sensitive organ, which is why it is protected from the free flow of unwanted substances from the blood into the brain by a blood-brain barrier. This barrier must also be overcome by medictaion, which we ant to have an impact on the brain. The barrier contains special carriers, which help transfer nutrients and other substances into the brain. At the same time, the blood-brain barrier has carriers that function like small pumps, which remove some substances from the brain. These pumps also remove some medication.

One of these pumps is P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which is recorded in the gene ABCB1. Small variations named SNPs can be present in this record. One of these variations is found at the position rs2032583 and has an impact on the effectiveness of the transporter P-gp- With this it also has an impact on the transfer or speed of removal of some medication from the brain, including some antidepressants. Quick removal means less effictiveness from this medication.

Extensive antidepressants, which are removed from the brain by P-gp include citalopram (Celexa, Cipramil, Citrol, Seropram) amitryptiline (Elavil, Tryptanol, Endep, Amyzol, Elatrol, Tryptizol), paroxetine (Paroxat, Seroxat, Paxil) and venlafaxine (Effexor, Efexor, Efectin).

Research including 265 patients who were taking one of the above mentioned drugs and those with a gene type of rs2032583 (C;C) achieved an improvement or a remission of depression almost one time more frequently after 6 weeks of taking antidepressents than those with a gene type of rs2032583 (C;T) or rs2032583 (T;T).

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